self-driving cars

The driver of the Tesla Model S told police the car was in Autopilot mode as it rammed into a Utah fire department truck on May 11 in South Jordan, Utah.

Federal Agency Investigates Tesla Crash; Driver Says Car Was On Autopilot

8:30pm May 16, 2018

by Vanessa Romo

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it's looking into a collision where a Model S plowed into another car at 60 mph. It's at least the third safety probe of Tesla since March.

A photo provided by the National Transportation Safety Board shows investigators examining the self-driving Uber SUV that fatally struck a woman in Tempe, Ariz., this month.

National

Uber Reaches Settlement With Family Of Arizona Woman Killed By Driverless Car

10:49am March 29, 2018

by Scott Neuman

An attorney representing the daughter and husband of 49-year-old Elaine Herzberg says a settlement with the ride-hailing company has been reached, but provided no specifics.

Investigators for the National Transportation Safety Board in Tempe, Ariz., examine the Uber vehicle involved in the fatal crash.

California Won't Renew Uber's Permit To Test Self-Driving Vehicles After Fatal Crash

10:28pm March 27, 2018

by Ian Wren

The state says the permit expires Saturday. Uber itself says it won't seek a renewal. Hours earlier Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey announced he's suspending testing there, where the death occurred.

An Uber driverless Ford Fusion drives in Pittsburgh in 2016. On Friday, Uber and Google's Waymo self-driving unit announced a settlement in their trade secrets case.

Uber, Google's Waymo Settle Case Over Trade Secrets For Self-Driving Cars

3:53pm February 09, 2018

by Ian Wren

Representatives for both companies confirmed they reached a settlement valued at $245 million, ending a week of courtroom drama. Google had accused Uber of poaching its top self-driving engineer.

Mosaic consisting of the shape of the head.

Science

How To Make AI The Best Thing To Happen To Us

4:38pm October 08, 2017

by Max Tegmark

We can thrive with AI if we win the race between the growing power of our technology and the wisdom with which we manage it, but we must ditch the idea of learning from our mistakes, says Max Tegmark.

Anthony Rowe, an associate professor at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, wants bikes to feed information to nearby cars to avoid collisions. His bike is fitted with an array of precise instruments and a battery hidden in the water bottle.

National

Bikes May Have To Talk To Self-Driving Cars For Safety's Sake

12:31pm July 24, 2017

by Margaret J. Krauss

Autonomous vehicles have gotten pretty good at detecting other cars and pedestrians. But "seeing" bikes and predicting what they'll do is still a challenge. The answer may lie in bikes themselves.

Queue Listen Now

Each autonomous vehicle has two Uber exployees in the front seat; one is ready to grab the wheel and apply a foot to the brake pedal, the other in the passenger seat, has a computer screen showing what the car's rooftop laser-bouncing radar is seeing.

Pittsburgh Offers Driving Lessons For Uber's Autonomous Cars

4:54pm April 03, 2017

Uber has been testing driverless cars in the city for the past six months. Local officials are happy for the investment the experiment brings and for the boost to the city's reputation as a tech hub.

Queue Listen Now

Google self-driving cars are shown outside the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, Calif., in May 2014.

Self-Driving Cars Raise Questions About Who Carries Insurance

12:14pm April 03, 2017

by Yuki Noguchi

Currently, insurance rates are calculated based on drivers' claims histories and driving records. Driverless cars are expected to shift the liability toward carmakers. But it won't happen all at once.

Queue Listen Now

Pilot models of self-driving cars for Uber are displayed in Pittsburgh. Autonomous vehicles are expected to cut traffic jams, but not before enough human drivers are off the road.

Economy

Self-Driving Cars Could Ease Our Commutes, But That'll Take A While

7:23am February 10, 2017

by Yuki Noguchi

One of the promises of autonomous vehicles is that they'll reduce traffic jams. Self-driving cars will bring many changes, but traffic flows won't improve until enough human drivers are off the roads.

Queue Listen Now

Devin Greene sits in the front seat of an Uber driverless car during a test drive in San Francisco on Dec. 13.

National

Uber Stops Self-Driving Test In California After DMV Pulls Registrations

9:44pm December 21, 2016

by Avie Schneider

Uber will have to park its self-driving cars in California for now. The state's Department of Motor Vehicles said it revoked the registrations of 16 vehicles owned by the ride-hailing company.